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Qualified lawyers - FAQs

One of our most distinctive features is our multi-specialist approach: our lawyers are encouraged to maintain a broad diet of work, which not only keeps them stimulated and challenged, but also ensures that our clients receive advice from people able to see the bigger picture. With the help of first-class legal information and other support services, this approach will enable you to undertake varied and interesting work and to mould your practice to suit your own strengths and interests.

Our lawyers come from many different educational backgrounds and cultures and have a wide variety of outside interests: there is no recognisable Slaughter and May type. Much of our work is at the forefront of financial and commercial developments and this often calls for an original and inventive approach. So, when recruiting, we are looking for people who can demonstrate independent thought and who will bring diverse strengths to our practice.

We do not impose chargeable hours targets on our fee-earners. This is a crucial aspect of the way we manage our lawyers and their workloads: they work hard but we do not measure their performance or commitment according to the number of hours they have recorded. This freedom produces a supportive and non-competitive environment. When you are working hard, we do our best to support you with first-class legal, technical and administrative support. Practical support is also given in the form of refreshments and transport home. During quieter periods, we will encourage you to head home - we do not believe in "face-time".

We have an international practice - over 50% of our new clients each year are from overseas. Lawyers in our London office handle the English law aspects of this work and liaise with market leading firms around the world on the multi-jurisdictional issues. As an associate with us, you could expect an unrivalled global caseload, including international travel where necessary, and will work with colleagues who are among the best lawyers in their own countries. We regularly send associates on secondment to our 'Best Friend' firms overseas and encourage relationship-building at all levels through a variety of shared training and social events.

We have the shortest partnership track of the top ten law firms in the City. The average for new partners for the past five years has been just over seven years, post-qualification experience to become a full equity partner. We are quicker than others to reward hard work, commitment and talent.

A distinctive culture

We achieve excellence through collective effort and a willingness to share expertise